By Shavonne Walker
shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — A 78-year-old Rowan man, who is a registered sex offender, faces new charges for an incident that happened decades ago. The victim was a child in the 1980s and the new investigation began in October following a complaint.

The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office charged Coy Daniel Sheets with felony indecent liberties with a minor. He has since been released from the Rowan County jail under a $2,500 secured bond.

The complaint came from the victim, who indicated Sheets sexually assaulted him when he was a child. An investigation began, officials said, and during it detectives were able to obtain enough evidence to present the case to the Rowan County District Attorney.

On Tuesday, detectives sought felony charges against Sheets. He was arrested at his home.

Sheets had previously been charged with 19 felony offenses for indecent liberties with children and later convicted on incidents that occurred between June 2002 and February 2004.

The victims in those incidents were three boys who were 15 years old and younger.

Rowan detectives said during that investigation Sheets invited the boys to his home to perform odd jobs or to play pool. He won their trust and eventually showed them pornographic movies and material. He then asked them to participate in sexual activities.

In 2009, he was also convicted of sexual battery.